Autonomous vehicles could be on UK roads as soon as 2026, the transport secretary has said, as ministers seeks to capture as much as £42bn of the international self-driving market within the coming decade. "This technology exists, it works, and what we're doing is putting in place the proper legislation so that people can have full confidence in the safety of this technology," Mark Harper told BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Wednesday. Asked if people would be able to travel in self-driving vehicles "with your hands off the wheel, doing your emails" in 2026, Harper replied: "Yes, and I think that's when companies are expecting – in 2026, during that year – that we'll start seeing this technology rolled out." Responding to a question by the former Top Gear presenter James May – who was Today's guest editor – about why the government was supporting the development of autonomous driving, Harper claimed there were "a few" reasons. He said: "I think it will actually improve road safety. We already have a very good road safety record in Britain but there are still several thousand people a year killed on our roads. "It's a big economic opportunity for Britain to get what will be a big global share of market.

Self-driving vehicles could soon be whizzing around on Britain's roads, after the Government announced plans to allow cars, coaches and lorries with self-driving features to be used on motorways in 2023. Only features such as lane-keeping technology will be legal initially, with fully autonomous self-driving cars – where motorists can check emails or watch TV behind the wheel – not allowed until 2025. Nevertheless, it would still signify a major milestone in the continued development and rollout of the technology. Many experts have welcomed the Government's desire to embrace self-driving technology, claiming it could improve road safety and better connect communities. But critics have questioned the safety of such vehicles.

You could soon see self-driving buses and delivery vans on UK roads as the government launches a £40m ($50m) competition to bring this technology to the market. The funding to kick-start commercial self-driving services, such as delivery vehicles and passenger shuttles, will help bring together companies and investors so that sustainable business models to be rolled out nationally and exported globally. The Commercialising Connected and Automated Mobility competition will provide grants to help roll out commercial use self-driving vehicles across the UK from 2025. Types of self-driving vehicles that could be deployed include delivery vans, passenger buses, shuttles and pods, as well as vehicles that move people and luggage at airports and containers at shipping ports. The competition aims to unlock a new industry that could be worth £42bn to the UK economy by 2035, potentially creating 38,000 new skilled jobs.

Technologies such as Automated Lane Keeping Systems will pave the way for higher levels of automation in future – and these advances will unleash Britain's potential to be a world leader in the development and use of these technologies, creating essential jobs while ensuring our roads remain among the safest on the planet.

Motorists could legally allow their cars to "self-drive" on British motorways later this year – but only slowly, the government has announced. Drivers could soon be allowed to read a newspaper or watch a film via the car's built-in screen in periods of slow-moving traffic, using automated lane-keeping system (Alks) technology that makes the car stay in lane and a safe distance from other vehicles. But insurers and motoring organisations said much more work needed to be done to ensure safety, after the Department for Transport confirmed it would pursue plans to allow new models fitted with Alks to drive without the driver's input. The cars will be defined as self-driving when the system is in operation, at a maximum speed of 37mph. According to the DfT, the technology, which will constantly monitor speed and distance from other cars, could improve road safety by reducing human error.

Transport Minister Rachel Maclean said: "The UK is well-placed as a science superpower to lead the world in this area and I'm delighted to support projects that drive green innovation, promote a clean transport future and help the economy." William Sachiti, founder of Academy of Robotics, claimed: "Kar-go's first deliveries represent a key milestone for the wider automotive industry." The firm says the Kar-go system is "optimised to autonomously drive on un-marked roads making the vehicle perfect for solving the challenge of last mile deliveries in residential areas as well as urban environments". DON'T MISS: Driverless cars come with legal risks as'it remains to be seen' who to blame for crashes [INSIGHT] Microsoft Teams will stop working for millions of users this month - are you affected?

Scientists are building autonomous repair robots that will use AI to identify and fix potholes in UK roads. The electric, self-driving bots – which are being built by a spin-out company from the University of Liverpool called Robotiz3d – can find small cracks in the road and cover them with asphalt. Researchers say the machines, which look like a cross between a tank and a road roller, will transform road maintenance when they hit the roads in 2021, and finally offer a cost effective fix for the UK's pothole problem. Currently, no autonomous technology solutions exist to tackle potholes, which are estimated to have cost UK taxpayers more than £1 billion to fix over the last decade. Artist's impression of the autonomous road repair system, which looks part-tank, part road roller.

The government has unveiled a new £30 million fund to help get driverless cars on the road. Chancellor Philip Hammond vowed to bring fully-autonomous vehicles to the UK by 2021 in his autumn budget last year. The latest multi-million round of funding is designed to speed-up the roll-out of autonomous vehicles by supporting technology and automotive companies developing driverless systems. Companies will have to bid for the funding, Business Minister Richard Harrington announced today. Of the £30 million total, the government has set aside £5 million to be awarded specifically to projects building cars that can park themselves.

One of the biggest issues facing the introduction of self-driving cars is where blamed is placed if one is involved in an accident. Does the responsibility lie with the vehicle owner, the car manufacturer or the firm that's developed the autonomous driving software? This and more will be decided in the next three years, with the Government launching a new legal review to prepare the country for driverless cars hitting UK roads. Minsters have commissioned the study in order to'ensure the UK remains one of the best places in the world to develop, test and drive self-driving vehicles'. Roads minister Jesse Norman yesterday announced the start of the review by the Law Commission of England and Wales and the Scottish Law Commission that will examine any legal obstacles that might restrict the widespread introduction of self-driving vehicles and highlight the need for regulatory reforms.

Jeremy Clarkson has warned that he could have been killed by a driverless car as Chancellor Philip Hammond is about to allow the new technology to be tested on UK roads. The former Top Gear presenter said he tested out a driverless car which made two mistakes within 50 miles, and as a result he feared for his life. He wrote in the Sunday Times magazine: "I drove a car the other day which has a claim of autonomous capability and twice in the space of 50 miles on the M4 it made a mistake, a huge mistake, which could have resulted in death. "We have to be very careful legally, so I'm not going to say which one." Writing about the technology being developed and safe enough for British roads, he said: "For now, we're miles away from it." The Grand Tour host's article came as Mr Hammond was preparing to give the green light to the autonomous car industry, allowing developers to test self-driving cars on UK roads for the first time. Changing the regulations is part of Mr Hammond's goal to see autonomous cars on British roads by 2021, boosting an industry which is predicted to be worth £28 billion by 2035 and provide 27,000 jobs. Audi will start selling advanced autonomous cars next year. Mr Clarkson wrote: "You drive one of your driverless cars over the Death Road in Bolivia and I'll buy one.